The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-02-05
some New Books.

IUE AZTFC-: INElR HISTORY, MAJ NLitH NM
CUSTOMS. From the French OF LuCian
Biart. Authorized translation BY }. l.. Gar
Ger. Chicago: A. q. McClurg * Co. OF
tawa, T.. Y. Grigg'.
The completion OF n through line OF rail
way from Chicago to the City of Mexico and
the growing importance Of the commerce be
tween the United States and NeNico has done
muct 10 beRct an interest in the history and
affairs OF our ncighbors on the south-done
more. in fact, In that direction than did the
late war with that country, or the stu later
complications growing out VI the MaNmllllan
affair along in the sixties. II Is III measure
surprising how little we know in fact oil Mex
leo. The name Aztec" does indeed seem to
awaken ideas Of ancient msgnihccnce and
power, but in what that consisted the people
generally have but u shallow idea. fT2scotts
history has Nh Introduction giving IN account
Of the ancient power. wealth and iukury OF
The Mexlcans, or A2teC7, but IL Is after a.. Ont
a sketch, while the reading Of Nj. BancrOfts
III. H. Mexico, IN two immense aud eH.
Aaustive works, l. too Formidable an un
dertsking for the every day reader. To
suol the present volume, therefore. OF
readable size, handsomely printed and
illustrated, will be welcomed. alr. BsFt,
distinguished scholar and scientist
moi content with collatlng the facts from cx.
isting records, made In addition thorough
study OF these people in Mexico while The
translation has been admirably maze.
The volume opens with al account OF the
country, It's climate ana productions, the
growth Of the people from their origin, de
tails Of their conqucsts, the extent Of their
possessions and their subsequent history
down 10 the appearance Of CorleI and toe
destruction Of their empire. The balance OF
the book Is then devoted 10 description OF
Aztec society, their customs. their cosmogony
religious ideas and ccrcmonials, their laws,
arts, language aud literature an Interesting
and realistic picture of the McXlcnns whom
Cortcg found when he came in the person OF
Far God" as in the story by Gen. lie" Wal.
lace, conquoriug by his strange weapons, AID
by fortunately fulfilling the terms OF an Old
tradition prophcsying the eud OF the empire,
The picture II not one Of Il people, poor aud
ignorant, as David A. Wells would have US in
fer from lis late sketches of Mexico. with
which many aru familiar but OF powerful,
wealthy and cultured people and had the
SUCCESSORS OF Cortez been more after the
stamp OF the men OF Piymouth Rock, or even
the cavaliers OF Virginia, ii is morr than likely
The Mexico OF 10 day would be far different ap
a nation from that which really exists. The
spanlards had the opportunity Of founding d
nation. They embraced that OF the thief aud
the robber and ruined the nation thcy actually
found, leaving it worse than before II hne"
European "ciyiltation.'
The Boz TRAVELLERS ~ TUr RUSSIAN En-.
PRE-. BY Tho,. W KNOX. llu-trIted
New York Chicago, 4, G.. McClurg " Co.
The readers of MIR kuoA', boy Travel
lcrs" In the Far East, in south America, Ccy-
lun and Luda Egypt Palestine, &c a., viii
1asteu 10 dcvOur ,hi, latest addition To the
series; nor will the colder ch.ldrcU' L. uuiu.
terestcd In il, since Russian politics, hcr
wheat fields and the petroleum wells have toe.
yome 50 important factor IN their effects nu
American commerce that an account of
her people aud country viii be most interest.
jog reading. The route of the traveller, be
gips at Vienna, running nor,hcst IL -, Peters
burg, thence % Moscow. east 10 the NolEa AT
kazah and thence down the Yolga t. the Cas-.
plan. across the Caspian to the Caucasus, the
Black Sea and ConStautiuople. The volume
az copiously illustrated. and With the text OF
over 500 large pages, presents very com
.Aeie picture of the Russia % to-day, with
side lights in the oil fields Of the Caspian and
The Eastern Question"
BUTTONS ANALYTICAL Book -kTEPiNG CH,ET.
A Complete Exhibit. in Tsbulsr Form. Of
'he Science of Accounts BY Charles i.
Outton, Expert Accountant. New York
The Office Company.
This is work that will inleres, not on,y
practical book keepers. but young men max
ing that subject a study. Il is book keeping
BOILED down, showing the reasons for the
laws Of the science by discovering the wants
and requirements Of business n view of the
-subject many teachers overlook, in their
teaching of subject more or less abstract
IN itselO, rs we'll as showing the relstious Of
every transaction ~ the requirei record and
the relations of accounts to each other. The
Chart is accompanied by abundant etpians-
ioyy te1t-all perssdei by unusnal good
sesse, as well a. thorough prsc,iCsl know
ledge Of the science. II has beeo very highly
spoksa Of BY many experts and ns it sell'